The entire solar PV upstream value-chain, including equipment and materials suppliers, is set for drastic changes during 2017, ushered in by a perfect storm of events that has impacted on the industry within a space of 2-3 months, according to the latest release of the PV Manufacturing & Technology Quarterly report from the research team of PV-Tech’s parent owner Solar Media, Ltd.
Despite regulatory ambiguities, the general consensus from industry stakeholders at this year’s Solar Energy UK | Clean Energy Live exhibition is that Africa’s solar sector is ripe for new entrants, posing a significant opportunity that should not be missed.
Meco Equipment Engineers, a subsidiary of BE Semiconductor Industries provides its Cell Plating Line (CPL) for a wide variety of next-generation solar cell architectures migrating from silver to copper contacts, which drastically reduces the high metallization costs associated with Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) and heterojunction cells.
TerraSmart has developed its TF2 fixed-tilt ground-mount racking system that is claimed to offer faster installation times with 66% less hardware than TerraSmart's previous racking system.
Dow Chemical’s polyolefin elastomer (POE) technology used for critical PV module encapsulation applications under its ‘ENGAGE’ POE brand are designed to provide improved electrical performance and moisture resistance.
Schneider Electric is launching the ‘Conext SmartGen’ an intelligent, cloud-connected 1500 volt utility scale power conversion system, with a suite of supporting software solutions called the ‘Power EcoSystem’, including the cloud-based monitoring and control solution ‘Conext Advisor 2’.
KACO new energy is launching the blueplanet gridsave 1000 TL3: a storage solution in the megawatt-class. The unit assists utility companies, distribution grid operators, EPCs and large companies to balance energy generation and consumption on the power grid.
By Jasmeet Khurana, associate director, consulting, Bridge to India
Globally, the top 10 inverter suppliers accounted for around 75% of shipments in 2015. In India, the market is even more concentrated as the top 10 suppliers accounted for over 85% of shipments. Despite this, there is intense price competition and churning in supplier landscape. Bridge to India's Jasmeet Khurana investigates.
S:FLEX now offers installers a new, aerodynamic installation system for this rapidly growing segment of commercial buildings. ‘Flat Direct’ can be used on pitched roofs with up to 30° incline and guarantees short installation times with its pre-assembled components.
